1/5 Robert Schumann - Kreisleriana - Anton Kuerti

[grouchocatman]

Does Kuerti ever make it onto lists of great pianists? I wonder how much his political philosophy and / or disinterest in fame account for his relative obscurity. In Denver Lang Lang sold out (he gave a forgettable performance of the Chopin E minor) while Kuerti played to a half-filled hall a few months later.

As a pianist and an artist, Kuerti is a giant.

[brainfurnace]

@grouchocatman Agree with you that he is a great & distinctive artist. I first came across Kuerti in the liner notes (by Kevin Bazzana) of a Richter album, in which Kuerti is mentioned in the company of Richter and Michelangeli. So I thought that was provocative & interesting, bought a few of his recordings, and have paid attention to him ever since. I have a lot of Kuerti's CD's on my shelf, I'll upload some more.

[grouchocatman]

@brainfurnace That'd be awesome. I know many (true) cognoscenti consider his Beethoven cycle the best recorded. Like Richter and Michelangeli, his only concern is the score, the composer's intention. As he put it in a BBC documentary, "Brendel plays Beethoven Brendel's way. Ashkenazy plays Beethoven Ashkenazy's way. I play Beethoven Beethoven's way."

[RenoRaider]

Thank you for uploading this superb rendition of Kreisleriana. I can't believe the paucity of views for this recording.